Bill Clinton on Lyra McKee murder: ‘I am heartbroken… this tragedy reminds us how much everyone has to lose’

Former US President Bill Clinton issues statement on young journalist’s murder

Journalist Lyra McKee died after being shot on Thursday (Family handout/PA)DUP leader Arlene Foster (right) speaks with Sara Canning (left), the partner of 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee, at a vigil in Derry, following her death last night after guns were fired and petrol bombs were thrown in what police are treating as a “terrorist incident”.
Brian Lawless/PA WireA vigil is being held in St Stephen’s Green, Dublin following the killing of journalist Lyra McKeeSinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (left), DUP leader Arlene Foster (right) with Sara Canning (centre), the partner of 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee, at a vigil in Derry Photo: Brian Lawless/PA WireTop left, Lyra McKee and her partner Sara Canning; below, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and DUP leader Arlene Foster at a vigil in Derry

FORMER US President Bill Clinton has said he is heartbroken by the murder of journalist Lyra McKee and urged people in Northern Ireland not to let go of “hard-won peace”.

Mr Clinton, who played a pivotal role in the peace process and Good Friday Agreement negotiations, took to Twitter this evening.

“Heartbroken by the murder of Lyra McKee and the violence in Derry,” he said.

“The challenges in Northern Ireland today are real – but we cannot let go of the last 21 years of hard-won peace and progress. This tragedy is a reminder of how much everyone has to lose if we do.”

On his most recent visit to Ireland, Clinton urged people not to take peace for granted, and urged the leaders in the North to get the Stormont institutions back up and running – or face the possibility of returning to “hell”.

Earlier, police investigating the murder of Lyra McKee have released CCTV footage, showing both Lyra and the gunman believed to have murdered her.

Lyra McKee

The footage shows Ms McKee in a crowd of onlookers in the Creggan area on Thursday night shortly before she was murdered.

It also shows the gunman at a corner and an individual picking up something from the ground on the same corner.

Police said they were releasing the footage “to encourage anyone with information to make contact with us”.

Ms McKee died after being shot during rioting in the Creggan area on Thursday night.

Police said that they believe dissident republicans from the New IRA are behind her murder.

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Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy is now leading the investigation and called on the people of Creggan to help bring Ms McKee’s murderer to justice.

“Lyra’s death is senseless and appalling beyond belief. It represents the tragic loss of promise and the loss of potential, however it should not be the loss of hope,” he said.

“We know that the people of Creggan do not support what happened and they stand with us today in outrage and disgust at the mayhem that took place on their streets last night.”

Detective Superintendent Murphy said that police had already received a large number of calls and information from the public relating to the murder.

“I would like to thank them for their support and for their willingness to come forward and to try to help us take a killer off the streets,” he said.

“We also know that a range of footage is circulating on social media however I cannot stress enough how important it is that people who were in the area last night and who recorded video and took photos share what they have with us via our Major Incident Public Portal.

“People saw the gunman and people saw those who goaded young people out onto the streets, people know who they are. The answers to what happened last night lie within the community.

“I am asking people to do the right thing for Lyra McKee, for her family and for the city of Derry/Londonderry and help us stop this madness.”

Anyone with footage or images can uploaded them to the dedicated PSNI major incident public portal via https://mipp.police.uk/operation/PSNI19O09-PO1 or call police on 101.